Javier, Kent Lead Giants Past Padres

Henry Schulman, Chronicle Staff Writer

Published 4:00 am, Monday, April 12, 1999

The Giants learned plenty about themselves as they won six of seven in the opening week of 1999, and most of the revelations were positive. This team appears to have a boundless reservoir of offense, good fortune and confidence.

On the other hand, the pitchers learned they must adjust to an altered view of the strike zone by the men enforcing it. So far, the results have been mixed, and the one pitcher most impacted has been Kirk Rueter. Last year's team leader in victories with 16 is winless in two starts this year, with 11 runs against him in 6 2/3 innings.

Both themes emerged on another soggy day at 3Com Park yesterday when the Giants beat the San Diego Padres 8-6 in the series finale thanks to yet another eighth-inning rally. They scored the two go-ahead runs on Jeff Kent's bases-loaded single to left after San Diego manager Bruce Bochy made pitcher Donne Wall walk Barry Bonds intentionally with runners on first and third and two out.

Both runs were unearned because third baseman Carlos Garcia botched what should have been an inning-ending grounder by Rich Aurilia, who batted second for the first time this year and contributed

three hits.

"It's all right," Kent said of Bochy's decision to face him rather than Bonds. "I thank him for allowing me the opportunity."

Kent was being a bit sarcastic, as he was when he gestured toward the Padres' dugout after he dumped his game-winning hit in front of left fielder Reggie Sanders. Kent later apologized to Bochy for something he said he did not do.

"I think Bochy thinks I flipped him off after I touched first base," Kent said. "I was just thanking him for the opportunity to hit. I wouldn't do that to anybody."

No problem, said Bochy, who responded that he never saw the alleged bird.

With that settled, Kent could posit on the Giants' best start since 1973, when they also opened 6-1.

"We've got a long way to go," he said. "Whether you're 6-1 in the first week or 6-1 in the 15th week, I don't think it matters much. We're going to take our nicks. The thing we need to is come back from our losses, and we were able to do that today."

The Giants' seemingly unstoppable offense got back on track after a day off Saturday. Stan Javier homered off left-hander Sterling Hitchcock to start the first inning, and the Giants added two more runs on RBI singles by Ellis Burks and Charlie Hayes as they batted around.

What has gotten into Javier's feed?

In 1,761 right-handed at-bats before this season, he homered 15 times. When he led off the second inning with another homer off Hitchcock, he had three in five at- bats. Javier credits Orlando Cepeda for suggesting a change in his stance.

Javier helped the Giants build leads of 4-0 and 6-3. So did Kent, who hit a two-run homer in the fourth. San Diego clawed back with five runs off Rueter in the fourth and fifth and the tying run off Julian Tavarez in he sixth. In both of Rueter's tough innings, home-plate umpire Ed Rapuano failed to give him pitches Rueter customarily gets as strikes.

Rueter's frustration showed in the fifth when he walked Sanders, after a 2-2 curveball near the outside corner and a 3-2 fastball near the inside corner were called balls. An incredulous smile crossed Rueter's face. Tony Gwynn and Jim Leyritz then followed with RBI singles.

"Today I thought I made some pretty good pitches that (Rapuano) didn't think were good pitches," Rueter said. "I didn't get the calls. It was just those two innings. I was getting frustrated."

Rueter understands he might have to adjust, because the umpires won't.

"I've always been the kind of pitcher who lives on the corner and staying down," he said. "Since spring training the down strike hasn't been called. I'll have to wait and see what they're calling on certain days."

Rueter's troubles mattered little yesterday because the Giants were able to rally with two out in the eighth.